SUMMIT ON PRISON ABOLITION, CHICAGO, NOVEMBER 8-11

The term "prison abolition" refers not only to the abolition of prisons and policing -- which a growing number of people believe is the best answer to mass incarceration and our school-to-prison pipeline -- but to their replacement with restorative and transformative justice practices that can make our communities not only safer but more connected and healthier for people of all ages.

A summit on prison abolition is taking place in Chicago.

In line with our current focus on education, OPAL will sponsor a carpool to the event on abolition and education on Thursday Nov. 9th leaving from the Robert Crown Center at 5:15 PM.

Abolition and Rethinking Education

OPAL leaves Robert Crown Center at 5:15PMWhen: Thursday, November 9, 6:30-8:30 PMWhere: First Defense Legal Aid, 601 S. California Ave, Chicago, IL 61612Organizing to get police out of your school? Working on responses to harm in the classroom and staff room that do not involve criminalization? Want a curriculum that creates possibilities to imagine and build a world without prisons and borders? Building to protect students and families from immigration enforcement (ICE)? Come to this panel discussion with K-12 educators, youth advocates and abolitionist organizers that will deepen learning between and across these constituencies and identify needed tools and resources.

Beyond One Chicago: Resisting the Divisions of the Prison Industrial Complex

When: Friday, November 10, 6:30 PM, doors open at 6:00Where: University of Illinois at Chicago Student Services Building (1200 W Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607) Conference Rooms B & CAn event on resisting criminalization, gang databases, and policing. We will feature the launch of a critical new report on the use of gang databases in Chicago. Community organizers will discuss past efforts to fight policing and criminalization. Together we will build abolitionist visions of expansive sanctuary in Chicago. Featuring BYP 100, CR, OCAD, and Mijente.

Fight to Win: Shrinking Prisons & Jails / Strengthening Communities

When: Saturday, November 11, 12:00-2:00 PMWhere: Trinity United Church of Christ (400 95th St, Chicago, IL 60628)An event on organizing against imprisonment and strategies to strengthen our fight for a world without cages. We will explore and discuss successful campaigns around stopping jail construction, ending money bail, advocating for prison closure, and for supporting prisoner-led struggles. This event is hosted by Chicago Community Bond Fund, Critical Resistance, Free Write Arts & Literacy, Nehemiah Trinity Rising, The Next Movement.

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The Organization for Positive Action and Leadership (OPAL) works to achieve racial equity in Evanston through advocacy, voter education, civic engagement, and candidate development. OPAL:·engages and equips Evanston residents to actively participate in the decisions that affect their lives.·works to ensure that leadership reflects and prioritizes racial equity.·works to amplify the voices of Evanston residents who have been under-represented.